Wednesday, April 28, 2010

A dark side of health care fraud will be revealed tonight on CNBC’s “American Greed” when the program reports on a Michigan doctor who bilked insurers, Medicare and patients out of at least $1.9 million.

The program profiles Dr. Robert Stokes, who ran a thriving dermatology practice in East Grand Rapids. Dr. Stokes had a dark secret. He was stealing patients’ money. He reused medical supplies and endangered patients.

Blues Vice President Greg Anderson (left), a former detective sergeant with the Michigan State Police, describes to an “American Greed” reporter how the Blues work with law enforcement agencies to fight health care fraud.

The program includes an interview with Greg Anderson, vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Corporate and Financial Investigations unit, who explains how the Blues’ investigative team worked with law enforcement agencies to convict Stokes of health care fraud.

Stokes, who bilked the Blues out of more than $600,000, is serving a 10½-year sentence in a federal prison.